Twisted string toy



Sept. 23, 1952 R MIWELLNER TWISTED-STRING TOY 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 Filed Oct. 6, 1950 INVENTOR. REINHAHDT M. WELL/NEH Sept. 23, 1952 R. M. WELLNER TWISTED STRING TOY Filed Oct. 6 1950 2 Si-lEETS-SHEET 2 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 23, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE l 12 1 '1 v 'rwrs'rs-n STRING Toy v ReinhardtM.Wellnen Philadelphia,Pa.1

; {Application October 6, 1950} Serial No. 188,789

had which can maintain the operation of the twisted string toy by simple manipulation, as by the pulling of a trigger on a gun handle or of the squeezing of spaced handles whereby the rotation of the button or disc on the string will be maintained.

It is another object to provide in a twisted string toy; whichis operated by a mechanical device, means for containing a plurality of the twisted string arrangements that permits and causes the rotation of these twistedstrings about a center in order to display'the different buttons throughout the use of thev device.

Other objects of the present invention are to provide a twisted string toy which is of simple construction, inexpensive to manufacture, has a minimum number of parts, trigger operated, of

pleasing appearance, compact and eflicient in operation.

- For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, inwhich':

Fig.1 is'a perspective view of the twisted string toy gun embodying the features of the present invention.

" Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the twisted string toy gun.

i'Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal'sectional view taken on line'44 of Fig. 1.

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are respectively vertical transverse sectional'views taken respectively on lines 5 -5, 6-'-6 and 1-1 of Fig; 4.

Fig. 8 is an elevational viewof one of the buttons which is spun.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of the button taken on lines-40f Fig. 8.

Referring now to the figures, I represents a handle formed of two parts H and I2 cemented together and preferably of plastic or other suitable material. The handle is hollow and the "separable parts have respectively opposing guide ways 13 and I4 in which can slide a trigger having projections l6 and I1 entering respectively the guide ways I3 and M of the parts [I and I2.

The handle has a forwardly extending projection l8 having an annular groove I9. On this projection there is fitted for rotation about the axis thereof a two-part sleeve 2| which is keyed through inwardly extending projections 22 to a hollow shaft- 23 that is journalled in the projection l8 of the handle. The sleeve 2| is held against axial displacement on the projection by-a pin 24 that moves in the groove l9 and by which axial displacement of the forward end structure is prevented.

The outer end of the sleeve 2| has a reduced portion 25 into which the sleeve 23 extends. Extending into the outer endof the reduced portion 25 of the sleeve 2| is a shank 26 of a head member 21. This shank has a reduced portion 28 slidable in the hollow sleeve 23 and which has'on its inner end and within the handle It] 'a head formation 29. The trigger l5 has anupstanding yoke formation 3| that receives the reduced shank portion'28 and abuts thehead formation 29 whereby to'cause the head 21 to be worked or pulled toward the sleeve 2| as the trigger|5 is squeezed. The return movement of the head 21 is effected through a spring 32 that surrounds the small diameter portion 28 of the shank 26 and abuts the end of the sleeve 23. Accordingly, as

the trigger is pulled and released, the head 21 "will be'imoved'toward, the sleeve or head 2 l' and returnedto its extended position.

The sleeve 2! has three radially extending projectlons 32 that are respectively notchedat their outer ends, as indicated at 33,'to receive twisted string 34 that'is looped at its end, as indicated at '35, Fig. 1, to fit over the end of the radially extending projection 32 and into the notch-"3.3.

'There are three of these projections 32 whichare the sleeve 2| and the head 21 wherebyprovisioh is had for three twisted strings. On each. twisted string is a button structure 39.

The button structure 39 is formed of two halves 42 and 43. The peripheral flange 44 of the half 43 is extended over the periphery of the half 42 whereby to hold the halves together. Internal reinforcing ribs 45 and 46 are respectively provided on the halves 42 and 43, as shown in Fig. 9. Within these halves there may be disposed balls 41 to impart a noise as the buttons 39 are spun.

The rear end of the inner sleeve or tube 23 has ratchet teeth 5| formed therein, Fig. 6, with which a ratchet element 52 pivotally connected, as indicated at 53, to a gear element 54, cooperates to step the forward assembly about the projection I 8 of the handle. A spring 55 is anchored to the gear member 54, as indicated at 56, and its opposite end engages with the ratchet element 52, as indicated at 51, to urge the ratchet element 52 against the ratchet teeth formation 5i. This ratchet element will prevent the reverse rotation of the forward assembly. A washer 54 is secured to the sleeve 23 to hold the gear 54 On the sleeve against rearward displacement therefrom. A shoulder 23' on the sleeve 23 holds the gear 54 against forward displacement thereon.

On the trigger I5 is a helical-gear rack 58 that engages with helical gear teeth 59 on the gear member so that rotation will be imparted by the trigger to the gear 54 and the forward assembly. n the return movement of the trigger [5, the ,gear 54 will ratchet over the inner .sleeve 23. If the button structuresareiof dififerent color, they will be automatically displayed in sequence ,from the side of the gun. The button structure has small holes 65 and -31 extending through the halves thereof for receiving the string 34. As the trigger I is pulled in and released, the button structures will be rotated first in one direction and then .in the other. The strings, .by virtue of their being twisted, will .have an elastic action to effect the spinning of the button structures. .On each-.pull-of the trigger the forward ,assembly will be rotated 21 part of a turn. This rotation will be continued on each pullof the trigger.

It will be seen that with this device hours of playing can be had without the need for replacement of the twisted strings. To replace these strings is a simple matter as the forward assembly can be retractedso that the strings can be placed over the 'projectiohs thereon.

While various changes may be made in the detail construction, it shall 'be understood that such changes shall be within thefspirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the a'pv pended claims. Whatis claimedis:

1. A twisted string toy comprising a handle having a cylindrical projection thereon, ahead member rotatably connected to, the cylindrical projection and held against axial displacement therefrom, a second head memberhaving a shank extending through the first head member, "an inner sleeve fixed to the first (head member, said shank extending through the Jinrier sleeve, a tri ger mountedi'n thefhandlei'or movement with respect thereto and connected to the shank, of the second head member to move the second head member relative to the first head member s'o'as to vary the spacing therebetween, a spring surrounding the shank of the second :h'ead member and abutting the end of the inner sleeve to normallyurge the outwardmovement of the second 'head member from the firstjhead member, each of said head members having respectively 'radially-extending portions c'ircumferentially spaced from each other, twisted string button devices extending between aligned radially-extendedpor- .tions of the'headmembers, means carried by the ber having a shank adjustable through the first headmember, an inner-sleeve surrounding said 'shankwithin said first head member and extending through the projection and into the handle,

' a trigger adjustable in the handle and connected to the shank to move the second head member, spring means surrounding the shank and reacting against-the inner-sleeve to extend the second head member relative to the first head member, means carried by the inner sleeve and responsive to the movement of the trigger to eifect the rotation of the head members as the second head member is moved in and out, said head members having respectively gpIjOJ'GCtiOns extending radially there- .on, 'twistedstring button means extending :between the projections to be-operated thereon 133 the second head member is moved toward :and away from the first headmember.

3. A twisted string toy comprising -a handle having a projection'thereon, a head memberrotatable on said projection, a second head member having a shank adjustable-through-the first head member, an inner sleeve surrounding said shank within said first head member and extending through the projection and into the handle, a trigger adjustable inthe handle .and connected to the shank-to move the second head member, spring means surroundiiigltheshank and react- ,ing against the inner sleeve toextendthe second headjmember, means carried by theimier sleeve and responsive "to the movement ofthe trigger .to effect the'rotation of the'headlmembersfas the second head lmember .is moved ,in and out, said head members "having respectively pldjedtions extending radially thereon, twisted. stringfbutton means extending'betweien the projections to be operated thereby as the (second lh'e'ad .merriber ismoved toward vand away from the first. head member, and gs'aid operating means "for rotating the. head members comprisingahelic'al ge'a'nsaid inner sleeve'havi'ng ratchet teeth, a'ratchet ele- .ment on .said helical gear engageablewith-jthe ratchet-teeth of the sleeve member ,toiadjustithe same, a rack onthe trigger .en aQQablejVJithLthe helical gear to cause the r'otationof .the helical gear as the triggerispulled. f

"REINHA'RDT "MBWELLNER.

-' REFER ENCES CITE-D 'The following references .are ofrecord-in file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PA IENTS 

